Just like any other type of vehicle, the trucks always need a battery for their operation. Again, the truck batteries usually wear over time or even die entirely due to different factors. As a result, the battery should be replaced with a new one. Replacing the battery by yourself saves money significantly, but how do you know that you have chosen the correct battery for your truck?
When you choose the best battery that can provide extra power for your truck, it will help conquer harsh weather conditions such as the winter. In addition to that, the excess energy will keep you driving when going for too long a distance. In this article, we will discuss the essential features that need to be considered when choosing a battery for your truck and the best option truck batteries that should be at the top of your choice list.
How To: Choose the Best Batteries for Your Truck
Sometimes you may get stuck on how to select the best battery for your truck especially when you lack information. When you are not sure of what is required, you can look at the manual guide provided by the manufacturer. However, if you want to come up with the perfect battery for your truck, then consider the following factors;
1. Group size of the battery
When it comes for group size, you should consider choosing the size that fits the physical dimensions of your truck. Furthermore, the size also determines the locations and even the type of your vehicle. Usually, the group size depends on the make of your vehicle, engine and model type.
2. Cold Cranking Amps
Cold cranking amps refers to the rating used in defining the capability of the battery to start its engine during cold temperature. Therefore, rating is the number of amps in which a 12V battery can deliver for thirty seconds as it maintains the voltage of 7.2V.
3. Battery Applications
Some batteries have the ability to power all sorts of needs such as lawn and garden, powersports, marine, golf car, golf car and agriculture.
4. Battery Technology
Various vehicles and their driving styles can put different demands on the battery. Therefore, it is crucial to determine if the battery selected is capable of meeting the needs of your vehicle between the AGM battery or a deep-cycle.
3 Best Batteries for your truck
The following are the different types of truck batteries, their features that you need to consider when choosing a battery for your truck.
1. Optima batteries 8002-002 34 RedTop starting battery
Features
It is a starting battery with a rating of 800CCA.
It offers a reserve capacity of 100 minutes.
The 8002-002 34 optima battery is resistant to vibration at a rate that is 15 times more than the competitors.
The charging capabilities of the 8002-002 34 battery are faster.
2. 8020-164 35 RedTop starting optima battery
Features
- The battery has a rating of 720 CCA. The rating is good for the small and some larger trucks.
- The battery is vibration resistant and is resistant to vibration 15 more times than the other competing batteries.
3. ACDELCO professional AGM 94R battery
It is an AMG battery that is formidable, and it is from an industry leader in the OEM automotive parts.
Features
1) The negative paste is of high quality, and this enhances a very high performance.
2) The positive grid is made of calcium to improve connectivity.
3) The battery has an improved acid circulation that aids in extending the lifespan of the truck battery.
The truck batteries benefits
1) They have improved performance. More power is needed when starting the trucks than the power required by the traditional sedans. A truck battery is of high quality since it is designed to effectively start-up large vehicles with enough energy to support the higher amperes needed.
2) The truck batteries always recharge faster. Truck batteries are more powerful and reliable than standard car batteries since they recharge faster than them. The truck batteries can be used when having longer drives and sustaining the power.
3) They have longer battery life. No one needs a truck battery that keeps on dying and jumpstarts all the time before working or a battery that keeps on being replaced. However, truck batteries are the best if you need a long-lasting battery. They have a longer lifespan than standard batteries.
Read also: Best Battery for Ford f150
Types of truck batteries
1. The AGM (absorbed glass mat)
The Absorbed Glass Mat batteries are so efficient in their discharging and recharging, which is why they are very popular. The AGM is among the best batteries and is designed with an electrolyte solution placed close to the metal plates. The discharge rate of the AGM batteries is slower as compared to other battery types. Of the parts of the battery can be recycled. These parts include the:
- plastic shell
- Lead-acid
- Fiberglass
2. Lead-acid
These are the most common options for truck batteries. It is a combination of lead and acid that stores electric charge. These categories of the battery include all the wet cell batteries. The wet cell batteries are the most affordable in the market and are also known as the flooded batteries.
3. Lithium-ion
These batteries have a very high performance since they have more energy storage power than conventional batteries. They have a long lifespan since a lithium-ion truck battery of high quality can last for up to 10 years. The lithium-ion batteries are compact and are not compatible with all the trucks. In addition to that, their weight is also minimal.
Lithium-ion batteries are reserved for electric cars or hybrid ones. They are the most expensive types of batteries to replace.
Top brands
1) The Optima batteries
It is a famous brand that provides consumers and racing customers with aftermarket batteries. The company started in 1972, and it uses cutting-edge technology to make quality batteries. The storms created by the optima include:
- Red top batteries(34 and 35 redtop starting battery)
- YellowTops
- Chargers
- Maintainers
2) ACDELCO
The ACDelco provides the OEM and aftermarket auto parts to the automotive industries and the general motors. The brand is known for its high-quality products and was founded 100 years ago. Things produced by the ACDELCO include:
- ACDELCO professional AGM 94R battery
- Brake pads
- Engine air filters
- O2 sensors
The pricing of the truck battery
The lead-acid batteries range at the price of up to $200. They are cheaper than the other types of batteries.
The AGM and the lithium-ion batteries are more specialized. If you want a quality option for these two, your budget should be above $200.
The key features
- Compatibility
It is essential to confirm whether the battery you are about to buy is compatible with the year, make, and model of the corresponding truck. The dimensions of the new battery should be identical to the current OEM battery. If the unit is not compatible, you will have to return it, which will waste time and money.
- Cold cranking amperes
The CCA is the total number of amperes released by the battery at 0 degrees for thirty seconds at a rate of 7.3 amperes. You will always need the track battery to start your engine, especially when the temperatures are extreme, for example, during the winter. If you live in a freezing area, you should look for a truck battery with a higher cold cranking amps rate. For example, an over 500 CCA battery.
- The operating temperature
Under normal conditions, when the ambient temperature ranges from 68 degrees to 86 degrees, the battery will operate at its best. Not all the time that the environmental temperatures will fall within that range. Therefore it is essential to look for a truck battery that has a wide performance temperature range. Again the model you choose should be designed to have a long life span. The best battery will perform at temperatures below -40 degrees and a maximum of 175 degrees.
- The reserve capacity
It is essential to consider the battery’s reserve capacity since it determines the electronics that are run in your truck simultaneously and the device you can charge before the battery dies. The AGM batteries have the highest reserve capacity and therefore are the best performers in this category. After a deep discharge, the AGM batteries can hold eighty percent of their charge.
Other considerations
The cracking amperes. When purchasing a truck battery, always keep in mind the cranking amperes required to start the truck. The smaller trucks require as little as 400 amperes, while the larger ones require around 700 and 1000 amperes. Heavy-duty trucks require more than 1000amp batteries.
Safety. Ensure the truck battery is appropriately fitting and not too close to the hood since that can cause a fire. To avoid the fire hazard, ensure a 3.5 inches clearance space between the hood and the battery.
Conclusion
To conclude, the most commonly used batteries are lead-acid batteries. However, different truck models require different battery types chosen depending on the –board system of the car and other features. When a truck has the start or stop, the battery is tuned with an onboard computer and needs an AGM battery.
Fitting an AGM battery requires a professional to do it. Always ensure that you provide the right side of the battery in your truck to avoid lapsing in performance. In addition to that, it is essential to consider that the battery that you are buying for your vehicle should fit the same size as the manufacturer’s original battery.